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With the final of the BBC show The Traitors approaching, many people may be questioning their ability to spot when someone is not telling the truth.
In the smash prime time reality TV series, which ends tonight at 9pm, the ‘loyal’ contestants will put their heads down to find out which seemingly innocent co-star is actually a ‘traitor’ who has been playing against them all along and has goals. to steal the prize money at the end of the series.
Throughout the series, hosted by Claudia Winkleman, players honed the body language, tone of voice and general demeanor of their peers to gather “proof” of their innocence or guilt.
But unfortunately, the faithful players have been more wrong than right: they have exiled many fellow believers while the real traitors have remained under the radar.
According to psychotherapist Susie Masterson, it’s incredibly difficult to spot a liar at the best of times, but there are a few so-called ‘tells’ that can help the faithful make the right decision in the final to secure the five-figure prize pool set.
Susie, based in Manchester, revealed her top tips on how to spot a liar – and gave her opinion on how the faithful can successfully root out the saboteur among them to win the game in tonight’s grand final.
She told FEMAIL: ‘I think their cliques and their sense of security among those they consider loyal keeps them from really focusing on who might be a traitor.”
The psychotherapist, who runs the Ultraliving Hub, added that the group is making a mistake by getting too attached to Winkleman in a game of individualism. Here she reveals her top tips for identifying a liar…
Charlotte, a traitor, is seen smiling in a dark cloak during the BBC show where contestants can win a large cash prize
1. Inconsistent stories
The psychotherapist explained that a key sign of deception is noticing inconsistencies during a conversation with him/her.
Liars can contradict themselves several times without realizing that they have said something different before.
She said: ‘Liars may change their story or provide conflicting details over time.
“If someone tells the truth, their story is more likely to remain consistent, even if it is retold several times.”
2. Body language
Susie, the founder of ultraliving, a therapy centre, also says that contestants seem far too attracted to Claudia Winkleman (pictured), who hosts the show.
Susie explained that body language can be a big giveaway when someone is lying.
Susie said some key signs someone is lying are when he or she avoids eye contact or fidgets excessively and has restlessness.
This can manifest itself in the form of frequently changing positions, touching the face or covering the mouth.
However, this can go the other way and the person may be unnaturally quiet and become too rigid.
3. Verbal cues
Susie explained that there are a few verbal cues that can indicate someone is telling you a lie. These include:
Too detailed stories – Liars may give too many unnecessary details to make their story sound more convincing.
Pauses and hesitations – Liars may pause or stumble more than usual as they try to make up their story.
Vague answers – They may be evasive or give vague answers when asked for specific information.
Conflicting statements – Liars may inadvertently contradict themselves and provide contradictory information during their explanations.
4. Emotional mismatch
Contestant Leanne, a stalwart, is pictured looking stressed at the Traitors as the season finale approaches
Susie says that with liars there is often a disconnect between words and emotions.
She said: ‘A person’s verbal expression of emotions may not match their facial or body expressions.
‘For example, they say they are happy, but their body language and facial expressions suggest otherwise.’
She added that they also exaggerate or display fake emotions to compensate for their lies.
However, someone who does not tell the truth may also appear too indifferent or indifferent when strong emotions are expected, and therefore not fit in with the social setting.
5. Discomfort with confrontation
Susie said that cheaters may also feel uncomfortable when questioned directly, especially if they are asked the same question multiple times.
She added: ‘They may react defensively, become hostile or try to divert the conversation.
‘Psychological studies suggest that some liars exhibit changes in voice pitch, speaking higher or lower than normal.
‘Nervousness can also lead to speaking faster or clearing your throat more often.